Tom Cruise Recruiting Britney Spears Into Scientology, Is She The Type?
When I first read this I thought Tom Cruise was trying to rebuild his image. Since Katie Holmes Munsoned him he’s been the black sheep of Hollywood. Yes, some stars have thrown him some pity invites but the dude is definitely persona non grata. So what’s he thinking? Build Britney Spears back up and he’ll get back the keys to the kingdom? It’s a mighty tempting offer. We all love a comeback and those X Factor appearances just didn’t do it for her. Wouldn’t you love to see Britney humping the Super Bowl halftime camera like Beyoncedid last night? Could it be possible? Could Tom Cruise make it happen. He’s saying he can but there’s only one catch, she has to join Scientology first.
According to Now magazine, Tom tried to turn the troubled singer to Xenu years ago but that was when she was still up Sam Lutfi’s controlling ass. Dear Lord, what’s worse – Scientology or Sam Lutfi?
“Tom tried to reach out to Britney in 2008 when she left rehab,” an insider said.“But she was surrounded by negativity and things didn’t work out. He’s heard she wants to get her acting back on track and focus on her music again. He thinks Scientology can help.”
All I can think about is Mel Gibson. Didn’t he try to save Britney when she was shaving her head and threatening paparazzi with umbrellas? Why do all the crazies think they know what it takes to help other crazies? Sure, they might be able to understand the crazy but I doubt they are the best mentors at the end of the day. Just ask Charlie Sheen how effective he was with Lindsay Lohan.
Ah, but this is a hard one! I kinda feel like I’m selling my soul to the devil – or negotiating Britney’s. On the one hand I want to see her return to her former glory. On the other hand, if Tom Cruise recruits her and succeeds in stifling those voices in her head the silly religion might have another poster child and that could potentially set Katie Holmes’ good work back years. Still… Brit Brit needs some help. Check out the pics below. She’s dressing all skitzo again.Jason Trawick may have been a beard but at least he kept her lid on straight in front of the cameras. Poor thing, she needs something. Do you think a Britney Spears/scientology collaboration is the answer? In my head I know the answer should always be no but Tom Crusie can do ANYTHING, right? He’s playing with my heart!
SEE IT: Scientology airs ad during Super Bowl; ‘Knowledge’ spot targets ‘artists’ and ‘free thinkers’ and deluded idiots
Football fans seemed perplexed to see an ad for Scientology air amid the beer commercials and junk food spots. The cryptic ad urged 'rebels' and 'free thinkers' to fight conformity and think for themselves, presumably about their faith.
Comments (23)BY PHILIP CAULFIELD / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013, 12:46 PM
SCIENTOLOGY VIA YOUTUBE
A still image of 'Knowledge,' a Scientology ad that ran during Sunday's Super Bowl.
The Church of Scientology caused a stir during the Super Bowl with a TV spot encouraging self-styled "rebels" and "free thinkers" to consider joining the church.
The ad, which aired in New York, Los Angeles and other major markets, featured a male narrator speaking over a pulsing, anthemic score as images of attractive young men and women flashed on the screen.
Titled "Knowledge," the spot appeared to act as call-to-arms for the "curious, the inquisitive, the seekers of knowledge" to "dare" to make up their own minds, presumably about their faith.
SCIENTOLOGY VIA YOUTUBE
Some football fans appeared stunned to see an ad for Scientology air among the beer commercials, car ads and junk food spots that typically dominate Super Bowl advertising.
"You're young, you're old, you're powerful beyond measure," the voiceover said. "And the fuel of that power is not magic or mysticism, but knowledge."
"Sure, some will doubt you. Let them," the voice said. “Dare to think for yourself. To look for yourself. To make up your own mind.”
PHIL MCCARTEN/AP
The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles, Calif.
According to the blog The Underground Bunker, which is dedicated to investigating Scientology, the 30-second spot ran in a handful of cities, not nationally, so it probably did not cost the estimated $4 million that other companies shelled out for their spots.
In a statement, the church said it began airing the ad on its website and YouTube channel in November. A spokeswoman wouldn't comment on what the organization spent to run it during the Super Bowl.
EVENING STANDARD/GETTY IMAGES
The church and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, are the subject of a new book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright.
"As a matter of policy, we do not disclose the ad budget," Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw said in an email. "However, we are very happy with the interest that the ad has generated."
The ad also ran in San Francisco, Dallas, Denver, Sacramento, Minneapolis, Seattle and Tampa, among others, according to the blog, which is run by Tony Ortega, a former editor of the Village Voice who is writing a book on Scientology.
SCIENTOLOGY VIA YOUTUBE
Sunday's 'Knowledge' ad ran in a handful of markets, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
Super Sunday wasn't the ad's premier. It also ran during the AFC Championship on Jan. 20. A 60-second version is available online.
Football fans appeared stunned to see an ad for Scientology air amid the typical Super Bowl fare of car ads, beer commercials and junk food spots.
Some took to Twitter to poke fun at the secretive organization.
GETTY IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
The ad urged 'the curious, the inquisitive, the seekers of knowledge' to 'dare' to make up their own minds, presumably about their faith.
"Best looking cult members ever!," one user tweeted.
A New York Times blog that tracked the Super Bowl ads found that 37% of viewers found the spot "tasteless," while 34% found it "weak" and 20% thought it was "boring."
SCIENTOLOGY VIA YOUTUBE
The cryptic spot opened with an image of a young boy peering from behind a wall.
Volkswagen's controversial "Sunny Side" ad, which featured a cheerful white office worker speaking in a Jamaican accent, and the trailer for the new Star Trek film were among viewers' favorite spots, the blog found.
Buzz over the spot comes as an explosive new book about the religion and its founder, science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, is climbing best seller lists.
"Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief," penned by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright, details allegations of abuse, intimidation and harsh punishment at the hands of church leaders.
Among the book's more bizarre claims was that the church played match-maker for actor and church-member Tom Cruise, "auditioning" several young lovelies - including Scarlet Johansson, Jessica Alba and Lindsday Lohan - for the role of Cruise's third wife before eventually settling on Katie Holmes.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/scientology-airs-super-bowl-ad-article-1.1254906#ixzz2JyIRlaav
How The Church Of Scientology Got An Ad In The Super Bowl
YouTube
A shot from the Scientology Super Bowl ad.
In fact, Scientology did not have an ad in "the" Super Bowl. Rather, it bought local TV advertising is several major spot markets — such as New York and Los Angeles — during breaks saved for regional advertisers and local channel advertising.
Thus many people in major metro areas believed they had seen a Super Bowl ad for Scientology when in fact they only saw a much cheaper piece of local TV advertising.
The church had been planning the stunt for months, according to Tony Ortega, a former Village Voice editor who runs a web site devoted to investigating Scientology.
The ad itself, titled "The Knowledge," was first aired on YouTube on Dec. 18. It's 1 minute long, but was cut to 30 seconds for its run during the Baltimore Ravens' victory over the San Francisco 49ers. (Even local TV advertising is pretty expensive during the game). The church almost certainly did not spend $8 million to get the ad into the game, as reported by The Daily Mail.
The ad was first run on Jan. 20 during the AFC Championship game, Ortega notes. By amazing coincidence, the trailer for Tom Cruise's new movie Oblivion ran in the same game. Cruise, of course, is the most famous Scientologist on the planet.
Church members were then invited to the local Scientology centers to watch the Super Bowl together, according to this ad obtained by Ortega (right).
The ad will look as if it were an a national Super Bowl ad buy to Scientologists because the list of local markets it aired in contains Scientology's major centers, such as Clearwater, Fla.; Pasadena, Calif.; L.A.; Sacramento, Calif; and Seattle.
The ad features portraits of cute, hip young people staring curiously into the camera. A voiceover calls for them to struggle against conformity:
To the rebels, the artists, the free-thinkers, and the innovators.
Who care less about labels and more about truth.
Who believe nonconformity is more than a bumper sticker.
That knowledge is more than words on a page.
You’re young, you’re old, you’re powerful beyond measure.
Last night, the ad had been viewed 60,000 times — including all the views it had collected online since December. This morning, it had accumulated 75,000 views.
Most marketers expect their Super Bowl activity to accumulate millions of exposures. By that measure, the ad was something of a failure. However, the church isn't looking for millions of members, of course.
It's just looking for you.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-the-church-of-scientology-got-an-ad-in-the-super-bowl-2013-2#ixzz2JxzREH7W
Paul Haggis on his interest in Scientology and defending his friends
CBC News
Posted: Feb 4, 2013 4:34 PM ET
Last Updated: Feb 4, 2013 4:32 PM ET
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Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis may be one of the most famous ex-Scientologists, but the controversial faith still interests him.
It's part of the reason why he was eager to watch The Master, he told CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos.
Haggis also noted that its director Paul Thomas Anderson, who drew inspiration from the tale of Scientology founder L. Ron. Hubbard, "is a brilliant filmmaker."
The Canadian activist, writer and director behind Crash, Million Dollar Baby and the upcoming Third Person has made headlines for speaking out against the Church of Scientology. In September, Vanity Fair released an article that alleged the organization had "auditioned" an actress named Nazanin Boniadi (then a devoted Scientologist) to be actor Tom Cruise's girlfriend.
Haggis was pulled into the controversy when he blasted the church for its treatment of Boniadi, a friend of his.
"I don’t like bullies and I felt this woman was being bullied. She was being called a liar publicly. She’s a friend of mine and I felt I should stand up for her. People should stand up for their friends," he told George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight in an interview recorded in the fall.
Haggis talks to Stroumboulopoulos about Scientology and gives an update on his charity group Artists for Peace and Justice, which is working on recovery and rebuilding efforts in Haiti. The interview airs Monday night on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight.
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